Inter Miami’s head coach, Javier Mascherano, emphasizes the importance of every player on the roster as the team prepares to face New York City FC in the Eastern Conference final this Saturday night at Chase Stadium. He highlights that both starters and substitutes play crucial roles in the team’s success.
“We are clear about our game strategy, but I prefer to keep the starting lineup under wraps until the last moment,” Mascherano stated. “This approach keeps everyone focused and engaged. It’s not just about the eleven who start; each player on the team is significant. In critical matches like this, we must ensure everyone is prepared because every player will be needed.”
Recently, Mascherano made some adjustments to the starting lineup, opting to include Mateo Silvetti in the attack instead of Luis Suárez, a choice the coach described as “difficult.”
“Making such decisions is particularly tough when it involves a player of Luis’s caliber and the impact he has had on this club and the team,” Mascherano explained. “It’s always challenging, but I have to make decisions that prioritize the group’s needs and the specifics of each match. It’s important to communicate these choices to the player being left out, even if they don’t ask for an explanation.”
Mascherano believes that providing the reasoning behind a decision is crucial to avoid the impression of arbitrariness. “It’s essential to explain the rationale so that the player understands the decision is not being made lightly,” he added.
The strategy Mascherano implemented led to a commanding 4-0 victory over FC Cincinnati, with goals from Lionel Messi, Tadeo Allende, and Mateo Silvetti. This victory secured the team’s place in the Eastern Conference final for the first time in club history, following prior playoff exits in the first round.
Despite back-to-back playoff wins, including the decisive 4-0 victory over Nashville and the triumph over FC Cincinnati, Mascherano warns that Saturday’s match will be challenging. “Tomorrow’s game will be tough. We’re up against an opponent that rightfully earned a spot in the conference final and has won all three of its away playoff matches, which is a unique achievement,” he remarked. “We must remain focused and not let the surrounding excitement distract us.”
“Our mentality needs to be one of aggression from the first whistle, just as we did against Nashville and Cincinnati,” Mascherano added.
New York City FC reached the conference final after defeating the reigning Supporters’ Shield champions, Philadelphia Union, with a 1-0 win at Subaru Park.